Hijacker gets prison time

PRINCETON — A Iowa man has been sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in Bureau County Court to the Class 1 felony of attempted aggravated vehicle hijacking.

Mack D. Blumingburg, 21, of Coralville, Iowa, entered his guilty plea on Oct. 24 before Associate Circuit Judge C.J. Hollerich. In addition to receiving a nine-year prison sentence, Blumingburg was also ordered to pay court costs within one year of his release from the Illinois Department of Corrections. Blumingburg was given credit for time served since his July 10 arrest.

Blumingburg was represented by Public Defender Michael Henneberry. Prosecuting the case was State’s Attorney Patrick Herrmann.

On July 10, a Michigan woman called 9-1-1 shortly after midnight and reported that an individual attempted to steal her vehicle while she was at the Interstate 80 westbound rest area in Bureau County. She gave a description of her assailant and his companions. The Illinois State Police, with assistance from the Wyanet Police Department, located the individual at the Interstate 80 eastbound rest area.

After further investigation by the state police, Blumingburg was determined to be the individual who had approached the victim with a box cutter demanding her vehicle. The victim and her two children within the vehicle were able to escape unharmed.

Blumingburg had been placed on probation for felony theft in 2013 in Iowa. Because Blumingburg was the only active participant in the Bureau County offense, he was the only one charged.